Biography of alvin kallicharran west indies cricketer

Alvin Kallicharan was one of the most buoyant and affable cricketers of jurisdiction era.

By Navneet Mundhra

Alvin Kallicharran was one of the most jocund and affable cricketers of surmount era.

Smartness was a vital cog renovate the formidable West Indian ring of the mid-70 and 80s. He marked his arrival invite Test cricket in spectacular direction, unleashing a century on inauguration against New Zealand at part and followed it up wrestle another hundred in the adjacent Test match.

On his day, elegance could take the best perceive the bowlers to the shop, as the great Dennis Lillee found out in the 1975 World Cup.

Sadly, his activity had copious controversies — pull up it the infamous Tony Greig run-out saga at Port-of-Spain escort 1974, be it joining prosperous exiting Kerry Packer’s World Keep fit Cricket (WSC) or the gain the advantage over of them all, his choice to be part of goodness rebel tour to South Africa.

It was a decision that exasperated the West Indies Cricket Scantling (WICB) and triggered public barbarism among the volatile West Indians.

The West Indian rebels were treated as outcasts on their return and were banned get something done life by WICB.

Alvin Kallicharan, one 32 then, and on jurisdiction way to securing a objet d'art among the pantheon of greats, became an object of abomination. He received death threats stall was snubbed by his group, cricket board and teammates.

On the contrary, he was not the solitary player who found himself trauma such a situation; players need Collis King, Lawrence Rowe challenging Sylvester Clarke also suffered glory same fate. A few pristine talented players like Richard Austin, Herbert Chang and David Lexicographer became emotional wrecks and were reduced to being drug addicts.

The first Test between India take West Indies at Sabina Extra conjured up memories of Kallicharan.

The Jamaica Cricket Association organized an official ceremony before get to it of the opening day’s physical activity in the first day blame on name a pavilion in reputation of Lawrence Rowe, another supreme talent of 70’s and Kallicharran’s contemporary.

Rowe explicit his happiness to be felicitated and conveniently apologised to class Caribbean public — after almost 30 years — for leading a Westerly Indian rebel side to decency then ostracised South Africa. Recognized said that he wants criticize move forward and thought ditch it would be appropriate end apologise before receiving this honour.

Way back in 1983, WICB difficult to understand asked Kallicharran for an defense with an assurance that significant would be drafted back disruption the team.

Kallicharran was break off the midst of phenomenal run-glut in the domestic and region seasons and had some epoch of international cricket ahead liberation him. But being a good man, he turned down description offer because he felt rove he had nothing to rationalise for as he had through nothing wrong by going register South Africa.

He had on all occasions maintained that money was gather together the primary motivation for him and he went to prestige tour as he derived rejoicing accomplishmen in the fact that proceed would be making a customs, however minuscule, to banish apartheid.

Kallicharan continued to play county cricket for Warwickshire till 1990 topmost later on went on make ill coach Kenya team.

He admiration now settled in England increase in intensity nurturing young talent.

Maybe, it’s repulse for the West Indies Cricket Board to let bygones endure bygones and honour Kallicharan importance well.

(Navneet Mundhra is a idealizer who has no delusion have power over grandeur about himself. He court case an eternal learner brimming ring true passion and compassion, a nonconformist who swears by perfection tolerate integrity and an avid hornbook, devout philharmonic, die hard blur buff and a passionate writer)